Are those 3 all Aplysia fasciata ?

June 9, 2006
From: Stephane Ores

Dear Bill
I saw these guys mating, in Brittany. The one with the typical red edging is Aplysia fasciata, but the other don't have the typical red edging - are they from another species? (Aplysia punctata perhaps?), or is it possible for the typical red edging to be missing in A. fasciata?

Locality: St Cast, northern Brittany, France, 5 m, Brittany, France, Channel, Atlantic Ocean, 05 june 2006, Good visibility. Length: 200 mm. Photographer: Stephane Ores.

Thanks and best regards
Stéphane

stephane.ores@neuf.fr

Ores, S., 2006 (Jun 9) Are those 3 all Aplysia fasciata ?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16825

Dear Stephane,
Usually, species of Aplysia are easier to identify alive from aspects of their general body shape, than from photos. While the larger one, with red edging, is certainly A. fasciata, that species does not always have a red edging to the parapodia and head tentacles so the others could possibly be a colour form.

However I suspect they are, as you suggest, A. punctata. If you have a look at Marina Poddubetskaia's earlier message [#9758] you will see animals from Brittany, which from their shape are clearly A. punctata. It's not unusual at some times of the year to find mixed groups of mating Sea Hares. The environmental conditions which lead to mating in one species, cause similar effects in other species as well.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Jun 9). Comment on Are those 3 all Aplysia fasciata ? by Stephane Ores. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16825

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